As a young adult growing up in the 1970s, I distinctly remember the “energy crisis” that faced our country and most others during that time. Citizens were encouraged to turn off lights when the lights weren’t needed and to use gasoline sparingly and wisely. The reason I bring this up should be visible to every reader who drives down metro-area freeways. Long after employees have gone home for the day, you can spot entire office complexes lit up like Christmas trees. The Best Buy corporate campus along Interstate 494 appears to have every light burning in every building. But it’s not just Best Buy — it can be seen throughout the metro area.

We appear to have very short memories and seem less inclined to conserve natural resources than we should be.